"A Return for a Favor" Episode 1: Thread Shop "En" (5)

There was no such thing as a lucky break where I could conveniently become friends with Miki the day after I cast a love spell.

Atsuhisa had been chatting at my desk until the bell rang. Holding his ridiculously large enamel bag—the kind only used by sports club members—in front of him so it wouldn't get in the way, Atsuhisa finally returned to his own seat, right next to Miki.

Watching him go, I thought he should just talk to her during these short moments. After all, Aoyama and the others had already returned to their seats too. He really is a coward.

This is exactly what they mean when they say you can't judge a book by its cover. The reason he took me to the thread shop yesterday was because he didn't have the courage to open the door by himself.

When he tries to show off in front of someone, Atsuhisa gets bold and is finally able to take action. Even if the audience is just me.

The morning short homeroom ended quickly, and it went straight into the Classical Japanese class taught by our homeroom teacher.

This is why I hate Wednesdays. Even though the first-period bell hasn't rung yet, he doesn't care. He starts tapping his chalk against the blackboard.

The attention-seeking students like Watase are still chatting away, resisting the start of class, but those who have given up start opening their textbooks.

I didn't put up any futile resistance either, and quietly took out the notebook I had used to prepare for the lesson.

The classroom was quiet now that everyone had given up. A soft, murmuring voice reached my ears. Moreover, it was Miki's voice, and it was directed at Atsuhisa, so I couldn't help but turn around.

"Sorry, Mogi-kun. I think I forgot my textbook... Could I share yours?"

Since class had already started, she couldn't go to another classroom to borrow one. And the female student on her other side happened to be absent today.

Surprised that the spotlight had suddenly fallen on him, Atsuhisa's eyes went wide, and he nodded his head vigorously in silence.

"Thank you."

I couldn't see Miki's face from here, but since she had moved her desk next to his, she must have been smiling. A smile directed only at Atsuhisa. I felt a bit envious, somehow...

Atsuhisa's luck didn't end there that day.

"I'm going to hand back the pop quiz we took the other day."

This was during third-period English grammar.

This teacher just loves tests. Whether it's a scheduled test or a surprise one, he prefers tests, tests, and more tests over actually lecturing. I want to ask him if grading them isn't a hassle, but he doesn't seem to mind.

What's more, when he returns them, he makes a point of announcing everyone's scores. Whether they're good or bad. He does it flatly, without showing any joy, and only scolds those who did poorly in a mocking tone.

To put it bluntly, he is disliked.

I glanced at Atsuhisa. In the first period, he was ecstatic about getting close to Miki, but his scores are always bad; getting one or two points is actually quite common for him. He is usually the laughingstock, so it's a pity, especially since he finally managed to improve his standing.

...However.

"Mogi. You did well this time. A perfect score."

I don't think I was the only one who felt a hint of joy mixed into the voice of the teacher, whose standard is to be emotionless and expressionless. Unusually, the whole classroom buzzed with noise.

I instinctively looked out the window. I wondered if the fallen cherry blossoms had bloomed again. Of course, that was impossible.

Then, I cast a quick glance at Aoyama, who was sitting diagonally in front of me. Since the tests were being returned in order of student ID, he had already been pointed out for a careless mistake.

He was staring at Atsuhisa with a terrifying expression, so I quietly looked away to avoid getting involved.

Atsuhisa returned to his seat, scratching his head in embarrassment. Miki was on his way.

"Amazing! Mogi-kun, you're actually smart!"

Miki, who showed her admiration by clasping her hands together, looked up at Atsuhisa with sparkling eyes.

"No, this time it was just a fluke, just a fluke! Hahaha..."

He was grinning foolishly, but it was a fact that it was a fluke. It wasn't modesty or anything. He is particularly bad at English.

"This time, Mogi was the only one with a perfect score. Everyone else, try harder."

Ignoring the teacher who said that and tried to start today's lesson, Atsuhisa was still the center of attention.

Could it be that even his test score was the effect of the red thread of fate?

No, no, that's absolutely impossible.

During the ten-minute break between classes, Aoyama and his group stood up and went to Miki's place, but before they could reach her, she started talking to Atsuhisa.

"Hey, hey, Mogi-kun. By the way, what happened to that finger? An injury? Are you okay?"

She is a kind-hearted girl, constantly worrying about the bandage on his right hand.

Underneath that, there's a red thread tangled round and round, filled with feelings for you.

“Ah, no, not at all! It’s totally fine! Yeah, don’t worry about it.”
“Really? ...But I’m glad I got to talk to you so much today, Motegi-kun. Since we’re sitting next to each other, let’s get to know each other better from now on.”

Aoyama was grinding his teeth as he watched the two of them talking harmoniously. As someone who prides himself on being a brilliant student, his pride must have been deeply wounded by losing—even if it was just a small quiz—to Atsuhisa, who is considered the worst student in the grade.

“Hey, hey, Miki. This guy’s perfect score was just a fluke. Anyway, watch me during fifth-period soccer, okay?”
“Oh, the boys have soccer? We girls have tennis, but we take turns on the court, so I’ll be free the rest of the time. Good luck, Hiromu.”

Then, she turned her gaze toward Atsuhisa as well.

“Good luck to you too, Motegi-kun.”

With encouragement like that, there was no way this guy wouldn't be fired up.

“Nice shot, Motegi!”

Atsuhisa, who scored a goal after a dribble that would put the soccer club to shame, was a hero during gym class as well.

He also won a one-on-one against Watase, pulling off a feint that stole the spotlight from the soccer club’s ace. Watase lost his balance and fell ungracefully.

As he stood up looking frustrated, what caught his eye was the queen herself, cheering for Atsuhisa’s brilliant goal.

Reluctantly, I had been assigned to the same team as Watase. My teammates didn't even run over to him, instead signaling to each other with their eyes, telling me to go instead.

And usually, in situations like this, I’m the one in the weakest position.

I approached as quietly as possible and reached out a hand.

“Can you stand? Are you okay?”

My modest gesture of concern was wasted by a grumpy groan of “Huh?” and a click of his tongue. The hand I had extended was slapped away, leaving it with nowhere to go.

Watase stood up on his own, glared at me, and walked away.

It was so unreasonable.

I looked at Atsuhisa.

You might be having a good time, but behind the scenes, I’m going through so much trouble.